In Denmark, turning 25 while single does not go unnoticed: your own friends tie you up and cover you in cinnamon from head to toe.
The custom is called ‘pebersvend’ for men and ‘pebermø’ for women, and it dates back to the spice merchants of the 16th and 17th centuries, who traveled so much that they almost never got married. Over time, the prank became a birthday ritual: some people wet the person first so the powder sticks better, while others use leaf blowers so the cloud of cinnamon reaches cinematic proportions.
The funniest part is that, according to official figures, Danes get married at an average age of over 37, so practically the entire country goes through the pole. And if you reach 30 while single, the cinnamon is replaced with black pepper. A curious way to turn being single into a celebration instead of a source of shame.